NFL Rumors: Minnesota Vikings Extending Contract Of Head Coach Mike Zimmer
Longevity is something that is rare to find when it comes to being a head coach in the NFL. According to USA Today, the Minnesota Vikings are extending the contract of Mike Zimmer. Management is pleased with the work he has done and believes he is the right person to lead them back to the playoffs.
When Mike Zimmer was the defensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals, it was just a matter of time before someone gave him a chance to become a head coach for the first time in the NFL. The Minnesota Vikings jumped on that opportunity two seasons ago, and the gamble has paid off.
In 2013, the Minnesota Vikings won just five games. That cost Leslie Frazier his job as the head coach. The Vikings hired Mike Zimmer, and he immediately led them to seven victories. During his second season on the job, Minnesota won 11 games and the NFC North, making the NFL Playoffs.
VIDEO: Rick Spielman announces the contract extension for Mike Zimmer: https://t.co/dyx8nHCBwv #Vikings #NFL
— VikingUpdate.com (@VikingUpdate) July 28, 2016
Up until the Minnesota Vikings won the NFC North, the Green Bay Packers had a stranglehold on the division. Aaron Rodgers has led his team to four straight division championships. Vikings owner Zygi Wilf had a very hard time watching Green Bay dominating the division every year.
Last season, the Minnesota Vikings got a taste of the NFL Playoffs. They went up against the Seattle Seahawks in the first round. Seattle barely won the game by a 10-9 margin. That led the Vikings to believe that they have what it takes to contend.
With the Minnesota Vikings moving into the brand new US Bank Stadium, a billion dollar sports palace, the team felt it would be best if they were to lock down their head coach to a longer contract. Mike Zimmer has won the hearts of the fan base, so the move was considered a necessity.
As of right now, the Minnesota Vikings have not released the terms of the new contract. However, people within the organization have stated that Mike Zimmer will be the head coach for a very long time. The assumption is that he will be around at least another three seasons.
One of the biggest tasks that Mike Zimmer and Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner have going into the regular season is trying to turn Teddy Bridgewater into a weapon. The offense will be based around superstar running back Adrian Peterson, still one of the best weapons in the NFL, but Bridgewater will be counted on to take on some of the offensive burden.
To make life easier on Teddy Bridgewater and Adrian Peterson, the Minnesota Vikings signed Alex Boone, as reported by ESPN. He’s a mauler at the guard position. The Vikings also acquired the services of offensive tackle Andre Smith.
Defensively, the Minnesota Vikings could be one of the most dominant units in the NFL. Everson Griffen, Anthony Barr, and Harrison Smith made the Pro Bowl last season. The trio will more than likely be joining one another in the annual All-Star game a couple of more times.
The Minnesota Vikings also believe that they have other guys on defense who can make it to the Pro Bowl soon. Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, Linval Joseph, Sharrif Floyd, and Eric Kendricks are expected to take their games to the next level. If they all improve, then the Vikings will be a hard team to score against.
The arrow is pointing upwards for the Minnesota Vikings. Aside from all of the talent that they have acquired over the years, they have a phenomenal guiding light in Mike Zimmer. The contract extension makes all the sense in the world.
[Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images]
